Advent Activities 2012

My sister and I love traditions. We complain often that our family doesn't have enough. So I decided (with much thanks to Pinterest) to start a new one with Lucy this year: the Advent Calendar. We didn't do anything like this as kids, so I've just gleaned information from the Internet and relied on my creativity. My Advent Calendar isn't nearly as beautiful as anything I've seen on Pinterest, but I did come up with 25 activities to do from December 1-25.

I wrote the activity on the red square and lightly taped the circle over it. She'll peel off the circle to see the activity.

1. Read the Christmas story. [I got the book The Story of Christmas by Patricia A. Pingry at Family Christian for $6.99 yesterday. It's just right for Lucy.]
2. Make pipe cleaner/bead ornaments. [Just let her string pony beads onto pipe cleaners, form into a "wreath"-type circle and let her put it on the tree.]
3. Make peanut butter bird feeders.
4. Pick out a toy for Toys for Tots.
5. Go to the library and check out Christmas books.
6. Make snowman donuts.
7. Make Christmas pizzas for dinner.
8. Have a birthday party for Jesus.[Here's my recap of last year's party.]
9. Go see the trees at Frederick Meijer Gardens.
10. Make contact paper window ornaments.
11. Make Christmas cards. Mail them to loved ones.
12. Unwrap your special ornament and put it on the tree. [I still haven't bought her ornament yet for this year. I'm thinking Dora? I try to do something that she loved all year. I thought about a "big sister" ornament, but should I save that 'til next year when the baby's actually born?]
13. Date night with Daddy. [Aka - Mommy's chance to wrap presents!]
14. Go to the live nativity at church.
15. Make red and green play dough. [I think I'm going to try the Jell-O recipe]
16. Play in the snow with Daddy.
17. Drive around to see the lights.
18. Buy Daddy a Christmas present.
19. Make waffle cone Christmas trees.
20. Make/decorate cookies with Presley.
21. Watch a new Christmas movie. [I bought her Veggie Tales The Toy that Saved Christmas on Black Friday. We had it as kids. I can't wait to watch it again!]
22. Make goodies for the neighbors. 
23. Go bowling and celebrate Christmas with the Daddy's family.
24. Read the Christmas story again and open one present at home [Christmas pajamas and probably a small toy] before going to my family overnight. 
25. Christmas!      

Whew! I can't wait!